'Van Helsing' Renewed for Season 4 on Syfy With New Showrunner

Courtesy of SyFy

"Van Helsing"

Jonathan Walker will take over for Neil LaBute at the helm of the Canadian import.

Van Helsing is returning to Syfy.

The NBCUniversal-owned cable network has picked up a fourth season of the Canadian import, only without showrunner Neil LaBute. Instead, Jonathan Walker (Continuum, Wu Assassins) will take over as showrunner for the 13 new episodes that will air in 2019.

LaBute will still be involved with season four and will write three scripts for the series while juggling his time as showrunner on Netflix's The I-Land, starring Kate Bosworth, Alex Pettyfer and Natalie Martinez. That series also hails from Van Helsing producers Nomadic Pictures.

News of Van Helsing's renewal comes as the genre drama based on the movie of the same name will wrap its third season Dec. 28.

Never a ratings breakout (the drama is averaging 400,000 viewers through its first 10 episodes in season three), Van Helsing represents a low-cost acquisition for Syfy. The cable network has found success in that space with such series as Wynonna Earp and Z Nation, as those counterbalance expensive swings like originals Happy and Nightflyers.

"Having been in the writing room on Van Helsing since season one I'm excited to take the reins as showrunner from Neil LaBute," Walker said. "Season four will delve deeper into the iconic lore of the vampires and their ultimate goals for this world. New villains will rise along with unexpected heroes joining the fight. We have a fantastic build planned for this season and I'm thrilled to share it with our dedicated fans."

Van Helsing is part of a Syfy scripted roster that includes anthology Channel Zero, the final season of Killjoys, The Magicians, Wynonna Earp, Z Nation, Happy, Krypton, The Purge, Nightflyers and the upcoming Deadly Class and animated late-night talker Alien News Desk.